Kelli Delaney likes to transport her guests to fabulous journeys through her table settings. Last summer she created a tablescape inspired by the Silk Route by weaving blue and white ceramics with elements from the Italian Mediterranean like wrought iron pieces, monumental pottery and sprinklings of lemons.
For fall, Kelli is at it again. She’s taking us on a fantastical voyage to the India of Jackie Kennedy, the Italian rococo period and ending up on the wraparound porch of her Hamptons home. It’s all there on her table setting, a colorful and vibrant pastiche that makes the eyes travel.
“I wanted to create a new take on a fabulous fall table. Forget the little white pumpkins and hunting scenes on vintage porcelain plates and let’s go for a glamorous, gold and fuchsia decadent design. My starting point always begins with the dinnerware I feel will work best with the season and the menu,” says Kelli.
She began with her vintage china — Versace Butterfly Garden collection by Rosenthal — a gilded and colorful pattern that recalls the rococo. “The pattern is so pretty and ornate and I knew it would marry perfectly with the stunning Kim Seybert pieces I chose to incorporate. I love the mix of textures, color, and materials incorporated into Kim’s designs. The ornate napkin rings and chargers become conversation pieces when guests sit down. Instead of a simple linen look, I chose a gold underlay topped with a pink and gold embroidered sari fabric from my favorite shop in Little India.”
“I wanted to create a new take on a fabulous fall table. Forget the little white pumpkins and hunting scenes on vintage porcelain plates and let’s go for a glamorous, gold and fuchsia decadent design.”
Kelli entertains a lot with her husband Dr. Mark Kot. They can be anywhere from all-out big bashes to quiet casual affairs or as she describes “a fussy lunch for just one friend to make them feel extra spoiled.” She is the arbiter of all things Hamptons-related what with her digital guide and diary to all the chic happenings in this part of Long Island. With her extensive editorial background (having worked in various senior roles at titles like Allure, Glamour and Us Weekly), she’s created KD Hamptons, which has become an indispensable guide to the summer town.